Children and adolescents pose a unique set of circumstances when it comes to treating mental health issues. Developmental and environmental situations must be considered in conjunction with medical issues when treating mental health conditions.
Is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist a Good Place to Start for My Kid?
Child and Adolescent psychiatric providers bring a variety of expertise that often makes them the one of the best places to start when looking for help with your child. Like your pediatrician, child and adolescent psychiatrist have all the medical training and expertise, however, they have additional specializations. Child and adolescent psychiatrists have much more in-depth expertise and experience in diagnosing, assessing, and treating mental health conditions than pediatricians do. They are trained to analyze the subtleties to pinpoint the most accurate diagnosis. After that child and adolescent psychiatrist are able to draw upon a much wider array of treatment approaches to most effectively and efficiently treat the condition affecting your child.
Will the Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Always Suggest Medication?
Your child and adolescent psychiatrist is trained in the medical model which evaluates medical causes, genetic contributions, and biochemical imbalances that may be driving the diagnosis. That said, they have a profound appreciation for developmental aspects that may be contributing to mental health issues. Children and adolescents lagging or who are ahead developmentally are sometimes at risk for mental health issues which must be taken into consideration when formulating treatment plans. Additionally, environmental stressors such as bullying, recent moves, parental divorces and any number of other environmental events could also play a role in your child’s mental health issues. Your child and adolescent psychiatrist may recommend counseling or therapy in lieu of, or possibly as an adjunct, to medicinal treatments. There are dozens of variables that need to be taken into consideration such as family history for certain conditions like depression or anxiety or testing results for things like ADHD or autism before coming to the best course of treatment for your child. This intricate and complex process is often best formulated by specialists such as child and adolescent psychiatrists.
If you are interested in meeting with our child and adolescent psychiatric provider, feel free to contact IPC so you can schedule an appointment with Jackie Grinnell, CNP, PMHNP who can help you complete an assessment, obtain a diagnosis and discuss treatment options. Please call us now at 763-416-4167, or request an appointment on our website: WWW.IPC-MN.COM so we can sit down with you and complete a thorough assessment and help you develop a plan of action that will work for you. Life is too short to be unhappy. Find the peace of mind you deserve.
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